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One of the reasons why I didn’t immediately watch Love Rain is because of its 1970’s era. The first few episodes are really slow and dragging. Moreover, it’s hard to make viewers appreciate it because the target audiences of K-dramas today are mostly teens and young adult. I even had difficulty connecting with the characters in the 1970’s because I’m not familiar with Korea’s culture during that period. What I appreciate in this era was its cinematography. A lot of the beautiful shots of this drama came from the first 4 episodes. The 2012 plot has the typical formula in K-drama now a days. It was only different because of the family issue they incorporated in the story
I was impressed with how well JGK and YoonA played their two roles. They were able to show the difference in the characters and set it apart. You can easily pin point who’s from who without tracing any similarities in their attitudes or mannerisms in their acting.
I was surprised to know that Im YoonA is a member of Girl’s Generation. It’s no wonder I didn’t know because I’m not a fan of K-Pop groups. I listen to Korean songs and I like several singers and power vocal groups but I’m more into ballad than mainstream pop music. I honestly never thought of her as a singer first before an actress because she acts well. Yes, it was a little cutesy here and there but if the scene requires her to act mature, hurt or whatever serious emotion she has to portray, she delivers it—without frills. Just the right emotion needed in the scene. As I’ve said before, not all singers transitioning to acting ends up good. There are few artists who perform well in both worlds. YoonA is lucky to be one of them.
Love Rain is not for everyone. I understand that many viewers think that the plot didn’t work. I’m giving it 8 as overall score for the reason that I simply enjoyed watching it. I admit that there are parts I didn’t like and some are dragging, but then if I go beyond that and see what it really has to offer, it boils down to one thing—it’s a love story. I’m a simple-minded person but with all the dramas I watched and all the contemporary novels I read, I don’t get touched easily—I had that in Love Rain. I felt the pain, the loss, the love. It touched my heart—and that’s what I watch Korean dramas for.
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1This review may contain spoilers
Tumbling down a rabbit hole of problems
Was it warm and healing as advertised?Not really, no.
This drama was at its best when it had this just-go-with-the wind vibe. But, for some reason, they decided to throw in a bunch of out-of-nowhere tragedies and drama that eventually took over and left warmth and healing on the backburner.
And while the ML was being sweet and thoughtful the FL was letting herself be walked over by others to an annoying degree. I can take slow growth in a drama, that's fine. But she actually didn't change in that respect. Also, the prominent excusing/dismissal of abuse left a bad taste in my mouth, tainting a lot of my attempts to enjoy Summer Strike.
I don't know, I guess I just expected more; which is funny because I started this drama on a whim.
Do I recommend watching it? If you're looking for more kind MLs, sure. Otherwise, this might be one to skip.
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Awesome
Wow this was so good and so cute and funnyDylan and bai were so well matched and the supporting characters were gorgeous.
The story was light and funny and has really grown and performing exceptionally
There is really nothing wrong to post about for this amazing drama.
The music was on point as well and worked so well for this drama
An absolutely fantastic drama and well set out pace was good and scenic were good
Everything about this drama wws exceptionally
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This drama does spend a whole lot of time telling us things, rather than showing it to us. Both with the romance and the mystery, which goes in too many circles and consequently loses its tension after a while. It does ramp up again in the second half, but by then a whole lot of people will have lost interest in it because the buildup wasn’t there.
It all comes down to how difficult it is for the drama to make up its mind whether it wants to be a romantic comedy set in the Joseon era or more of a mystery about a young policeman who chases after people who break the law and the people who get in his way and complicate the whole matter. And the story never really manages to combine the two into one solid story no matter what it tries.
The structure of neither of those plot points is strong enough for it to work properly because the buildup wasn’t there, and there is a lack of balance between all these different elements of the story as well.
The plot seems too rushed at times; it never really stops long enough to explore things or build them up enough for it to hook you in. There is a lot of tell, and not enough showing us things. Showing us the main couple falling in love for example. Things just happen because they are supposed to happen. But at the same time, the story drags its feet so much and the plot and the character go in so many circles - which is a shame because the cast is great, but not used all that well within the story.
It’s Ro Seo who manages to shine the most in this drama and her character manages to be the heart of the story someone you can really root for. Hyeri is so likeable here. And if the story had been built solely around her, we might have gotten a better story. But it is Nam Young and his story halts the story so much. He is only there because Ro Seo needs some contradiction to her character and her story, but he does not get enough to do so that it has a strong enough impact on the story. His character hardly matters in the grand scheme of things.
This role insufficiently used Yoo Seung Ho, one of South Korea’s most talented actors in his age range, which is a damn shame. And while Yoo Seung Ho uses all his charisma and puts as many emotions and empathy into Nam Young as he can muster, the writing does not match his energy, so no matter what he does, Nam Young feels flat as a character. Which is frustrating to watch. He is a plot-point, not a solid character who influences the story itself. Most of the story he is just there.
Moonshine falls into the same pit that I think many period dramas like it fall into and that is to put too much emphasis on the palace politics and the royal family and uses it as a crutch or a tool to carry the story forward or build suspense - like the evil mother-in-law is used in rom-cos to add drama and stakes to the story and the romance. And it doesn’t really work. There is a certain skill that needs to make that work within a story, and it must be used with a purpose, or it becomes so dull. And many of these lighter period dramas, like Moonshine, don’t know how to utilize it. To me it comes off as a possible lack of courage in the story itself from the writer.
There is a lack of stability or focus in the story, especially towards the middle, which improves slightly as we get towards the end, but the story never really allows the moments to linger (and therefor there is a lack of buildup) and often seems too hasty so it comes across that the characters move with the story, but not the other way around. Things just need to happen. Therefore the tension in the narrative isn't really there.
Moonshine is an overall drama with lots of potential, but with such an aimless narrative that hesitates to take risks and break away from the norms of its genre, with crown princes, palace politics and forbidden love between classes etc. It leaves the mystery of the story in the dust and therefore the structure of the story, some of the character and many of the side-plots feel rather flat and they lack a little focus and depth. The drama wanted to do too much, but at the same time too little, with the time it took to tell this story. I cannot say that I was bored watching the drama, but rather that I was frustrated by the wasted potential of it all. The cast carried the drama through for me.
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Why I decided to watch The Moon/Sun is a long story which I'm kindly going to spare you. Suffice to know, 20 minutes in and I was hooked. This review is therefore dedicated to viewers who, like me, have never been fond of the genre.
Captivated by the details of folklore scattered throughout this drama, I decided to read up on their historical dependability. I so found out that the Saeguks of the past were all based upon true facts derived from Joseon annals, while the newer productions often deviate from this norm, by either introducing a few fictional facts on a documented background (fusion Saeguks) or creating a fantasy world in terms of characters, plot, even costumes. The Moon embracing the Sun falls into the latter category, so if what you look for is a lesson on how royalty lived in the Joseon era, you'd better forget this drama. This isn't a perfect Saeguk by far, possibly not a perfect drama either. It is, however, a perfect fairytale and in this light I believe it fully deserves the high marks many of us awarded it and the success it attained in Korea.
.
The fairytale elements are all there from the very beginning. Prepare yourself for a journey into magic, undying love, friendship, betrayal, hate, tears, laughter, curses and so on and so forth. A childlike approach to the viewing is needed, lest you want to spend your time wondering at its credibility or lack thereof. And because a work of fiction should never be judged outside its narrative context, it is undeniable this story works, and works well. Now that I have completed it, I fully understand the complains of those who wished for a different epilogue for some of the characters, but personally I was prepared to face losses and would go as far as to say they were a necessity induced by the premises of this story.
I won't spend too many words on the acting. Everybody has sang praises for the teenagers' cast, which I second. Nevertheless, the adult cast was outstanding, Han Ga In included – it was truly hard to surpass the grace, beauty and artless charm of the 13 year old Yeom Woo. Han Ga In didn't steal my heart at first but sneaked into it with steadfast progression. She has one of the most pleasant voices I know. I was literally mesmerized by Kim Soo Hyun, but I won't lie: I have a hard time separating my hormonal reaction to my logical thinking, when it comes to him. Whatever the case, he gave life to a multilayered, unforgettable character.
I'd love to talk in detail about each and every endearing character – see on top the Eunuch and Wun – but I fear this is becoming long enough.
I thought the transition from children to adults was marvellously made, and not surprisingly my very favourite scene is the 8 years jump, both on a visual as well as an emotional and symbolic level.
There have been times when I wished they had made use of more open-space sets, but not only I have not enough experience in period dramas to know whether this is often the case, but following what I wrote before, the enclosed setting works well in creating a sort of fantasy bubble out of time and reality.
Little visual details made my day, and I have no qualms in declaring this drama displays the most beautiful letter ever shown on screen.
A huge part of this drama emotional impact is played by the music. Mainly instrumental and with lovely insertions of traditional instruments such as zithers, harps and lutes, it would be perfectly fit for a grand period movie. Notable mention for the minor key pieces, especially 'Like Petals, Like Flames', 'The Sorrow Song of Love' and the enchanting 'Butterfly Dance'. They all play on the viewer's emotion and are wonderfully suggestive of the scene they soundtrack.
As for re-watch value… I am toying with the idea of starting afresh next week. I suppose this says it all.
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No bullshit BL but wholesome...
While I did not expect much from this series, it was very refreshing. It's many stories about many bizarre people which will grow on you the further you watch this series. They all have their quirks but most of them are just good people regardless.The center pieces are a soon to be gay couple and a girl which is neglected by her parents for different reasons. The stories tell about the life of the people, all the struggles they face and how they grow together. The gay romance is not the focus of the stories, it just happens naturally without much fanfare and I would have wished for a bit more focus there and some intimacy.
But overall that was fun to watch, educational to watch and a series needed for Japans society. This is of course on my "must watch" list, even when the beginning seems to be very comedic, the stories have depth and meaning and will warm your heart. This is a series for the whole family.
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Until about episode 16 or so, it was mindblowingly good!
The main character is this crazy hero, who is so intelligent that he is practically an alien.
And love story is cute, although very expectable.
Ok, there were some minor flaws when it comes to the police work (like walking all over the scene of the crime and touching stuff etc.), but you can forgive such flaws, just like the bad acting of most of the foreign actors.
The intelligent plot is great to this point, but
THEN....
everything changes:
1) Right after they fall in love he just starts behaving like a normal person, thus looses all his
charming antisocial features.
2) Then comes the all-tying plot in, and it is so DAMN PREDICTABLE that I couldn't believe that
it comes from the same writers as before!
3) Everything becomes one huge ball of clichés, you expect this to happen, then that, and this again, and it all does. Freakingly disappointing!
4) And it starts to draaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaag... Seriously, from ep. 17 on I felt like watching something in slow motion.... because of the predictable "turns" it was even worse, not just the directing. The pace was totally off.
So - while the first arch of this drama was insanely good, the latter was so bad that I really had to
force myself to continue watching. Jeez, that was a pain in the butt.
The only good news: The last episode improved on that.
But the so charmingly outlandish main character was lost on the way.
The good part would get a 10 from me, the boring part a 6, thus it ends with an 8.
It is still worth watching, though.
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A cunning web of deception and twists…
I don’t write many reviews but I thought I’d give this one a go because it’s really refreshing. Cdramas dominate my watchlist so I can pretty much predict most storylines. So far, I haven’t been able to predict this one. I also love that the main characters are not the typical bad or good people. They are conniving and neither wholly good nor entirely evil. I’m generally inclined towards smart characters because dumb mains are just frustrating to watch. The camaraderie and twists and turns makes this worth the watch.UPDATE: So I’ve finished watching this drama and I still enjoyed it. The only thing was that towards the middle and end it was a bit predictable because the director/screenwriter kept using the same technique in revealing the plot, which actually makes you less invested because you expect there to be a twist. Still worth the watch though.
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This review may contain spoilers
This is so intense and fast pace like there's so much happening, yet I don't feel overwhelmed. Very big production, the money that went into this was huge. The attention to detail is mind-blowing.The acting is great, Huang xuan doing wonders, happy that he's able to showcase his acting here. His crying scenes are heartbreaking. Wang yi bo did a fine job, looks pretty good. In fact everyone's visuals are great. His and Huang xuan's characters only had one thing in mind..revenge, that changed as the story progressed.
Song qian nailed her role, her character is strong and smart. Her fighting scenes were fun to watch, her status doesn't hinder her from doing what she felt was right. She mostly uses that to her advantage. Song yi is adorable, Liu ran is the best wife that Er lang could have asked for. I would say that among the mains she has the highest EQ. She is able to help Er lang with that. She is just getting unnecessary hate, i agree that some of the things she does it questionable but the girl is in love and love makes people do stupid/immature things. Every time she is ignored by him, my heart hurts for her. Glad that Er lang started to treat her gently, like she is quite understanding. I would say that her character development was pretty good. I found their cp on the cute and innocent side while Si Yue and Gao Bing Zhu on the mature and intense side. Main problem between the cps is communication. The lack of it created unnecessary problems for them.
As for the supporting roles, my favourites were Bai lang, Shen fei, Yao niang and Yunzhi. Liked how whenever they showed up they just ligtened the mood, especially Bai lang, the man is so funny and he does it with ease. Shen fei and Yunzhi both priotise their masters (friends) happiness first. Shen fei always helping and protecting Er lang in every way he can. Regardless of how crazy it might be, he is always there for him. Yao niang was awesome to watch wished she had more scenes. The empress is feared by everyone, she holds so much power its frightening. I definitely did not like Liu feng, he was annoying, selfish and a waste of space.
I like how everyone was connected, each character protrayed well. The casting choices were good. The chemistry between the cast is great. The fighting scenes are pretty well done. The characters are complex, not necessarily easy to read. No one is set and stone, from the mains to the side characters. The plot is intriguing, captivating and clever. I like how everyone is trying to outsmart each other. No one is written dumb, like they have brain cells and the logic is there. It is quite fast paced but the flow of the plot is not affected. In fact that makes it even more appealing. It got me anticipating what is coming next. There is balance in the plot, no plot device is overshadowed by another. There are quite a few plot holes but doesnt really the storytelling.
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The only ordinary portion of this whole drama is the second lead couple. Both their relationship with each other to their struggles in work is something many people can relate to. It helps that both Ahn Jae-hong and Song Ha-yoon are very good at their jobs, enriching their performances with groundedness and understanding. I wished, episode after episode, that this drama was more about these two. They made this drama satisfying to me.
The main leading couple, on the other hand, is where many of this drama's weaknesses lie. Acting wise they weren't on their A game, Park Seo-joon especially. I'm just bored of him playing the same brash, shouty character over and over again. Their journey also don't feel genuine. Note that I said the journey, not the emotions, which I think the actors tried very hard at. There were too many external conflicts that became more and more ridiculous by the episode, further distancing these two characters from seemingly extras to actually secretly very much leads. In many ways, it felt like the drama was lying to me. Even their budding romantic relationship was off for me, as I found it to be childish with a big dose of unhealthy possessiveness.
This drama is weird to me because it showed one of the best examples of realistic dialogue and acting in the form of Seol-hee and Joo-man, but also made me aware what undeserved happy endings look like in the form of, well, the last two episodes. It wasn't a truly waste of my time but I wish it would've been better.
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No it's not Japanese Squid Game :, It's Awesome!!
"**Some of the participants are as strong as monsters**" 😂🤣😅... *I was like that's true my man run if you can*. 🏃🏽♂️🏃🏽♂️Wow : I loved it!!! loved the background stories, loved the fight sequences, loved the cinematography, loved the mystery 10/10🌟
If someone says this is just like Squid Game, don't believe them because this is more than games and killing each other. It's *espionage, mystery, intrigue*. I get Squid Game reference though but I also saw many parallels with Japanese death game genre movies like Battle Royale, As the Gods Wills, Harakiri, Kaiji etc.
If you’re familiar with jidaigeki or samurai films, you’ll recognize the historical backdrop — the fall of the samurai class and the dawn of a new world order. That old-world-vs-new. The political tension runs deep.
I loved the layered mystery: the characters’ backstories, the “who’s behind it,” the “what’s the purpose.” Even the side characters get a bit of depth, you connect with them, you feel for them.But the background characters are also explored in great depth and you're able to connect and sympathize with them.
Our Samurai has PTSD, but is forced by cholera and poverty to raise his sword again and he unwittingly assembles a team of misfits along the way.
Through his team of weaklings and misfits some of whom cannot fight but have a fighting spirit, you will find plenty of inspiration about the meaning of
*real strength, being strong, good vs evil, finding yourself, friendship, found family*
And that it's okay to "*waste*" some of your "*precious*" tags on someone weaker than you or who has no chance of winning... that's the beauty of life.
Waiting for S2 announcement.
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On a technical level, the screenwriters’ ability to juggle so many through lines is stunning. Set-ups in early episodes lead to powerful payoffs hours down the line, and little time is wasted, with each scene deepening characterizations, drawing parallels, establishing new conflicts and reinforcing themes. Fictional elements are well integrated with the actual history, and while liberties are certainly taken, this is a much less romanticized world than that of most fusion sageuks. Reality constantly intrudes in all its messy brutality, and show embraces this, refusing to whitewash the actions of its characters. For me, the only misstep was the writers’ attempt to create a grand, overarching mythology running from Queen Seondeok to King Sejong. It felt forced and unnecessary, an in-joke that distracted from the story at hand, and its corresponding secret society was the least convincing aspect of the show.
The directing is initially a bit awkward, but as things progress, the editing calms down and the fabulous ensemble cast takes center stage, riveting in all their flawed, passionate, terrible humanity. Dark but never cynical, violent but never gratuitous, grim but never hopeless, the show cares for all its characters, and it makes you care deeply too. They often lose their battles, but they fight with everything they have, refusing to stop seeking, striving, dreaming. They can’t go on, and yet they do. And because of them, Six Flying Dragons soars.
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Mint Drama!!
Dear Diary (我的巴比伦恋人 - My Babylonian Lover), is a 24 eps rom-com drama that narrates the story of how a diary that was once written by a 12-year-old girl come to life. The 12-year-old girl (Chen Meiru) once fantasizes and wrote a diary about herself as the woman whom the Babylonian prince single-heartedly love and would die for. However, her "diary" became known by everyone in her hometown. Thus, the 12-year-old girl was traumatized and she grew up to become a very closed and serious woman.This drama is not like any other rom-com drama, it is original and unique. Dear Diary has so many plot devices and themes used harmoniously together. The drama is well-paced and there is not a single dull moment. Dear Diary has many exciting, interesting, and heart-warming plots along the way. Moreover, the drama also transitions seamlessly between comedy, romance, action, and suspense. All in all, the element of fiction and reality are seamlessly interwoven and executed.
The quality of storytelling is very well done, this drama grips you every single episode, it makes you want to watch more and binge the whole drama. Some people might find this drama bizarre and weird (because yes, it is), but when you're watching this, just turn off your brain and enjoy the drama. The drama isn't all about romance and comedy, there is a deep message hidden in it. The drama has some really meaningful dialogues, and the drama also displays tremendous character growth in all characters. In addition, even though there are 3 characters who were technically "fictional characters", but they didn't feel fake or generic, they felt like real people. All the characters are well-dimensioned, it is very well-written. Though there might be some plot holes, the plot holes are forgive-able.
All of the main cast did a very exceptional job. The actors are really commendable for acting delivering their lines without laughing, as there are a lot of scenes that are really hilarious; e.g. drinking from a fishbowl. Moreover, the interactions and chemistry between everyone are also realistically and convincingly portrayed.
The production of Dear Diary is also executed immaculately, the writing, direction, and production team pays close attention to the whole drama that making it a perfect drama!! The production team went to Iraq, Morocco, and Paris to shoot some of the scenes and to accumulate Babylonian artifacts and resources. In addition, the drama also spent 2 years on post-production, with its dubbing and editing. Therefore, believe me, it won't disappoint you. The technical execution of this drama might not be top-notch, but it is interesting and beautiful. It has immersive camerawork for certain scenes and appropriate levels of color grading. Moreover, the high production value is also reflected in the set design, costume, everything is fantastic.
All in all, Dear Diary is a wonderfully produced drama, it has an engrossing plot, impressive cinematography, beautiful writing. Dear Diary will keep you on the edge of your chair, with its comedy, thrills, and suspense playing out at a compelling pace. With it, it deserves more attention and it is definitely one of this year's dark horse.
Plus, I love how each episode ending ends with this statement, "MeiRu, I’m marrying you. We’ll be in a monogamous relationship and I’ll never leave you."
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A Mature and Underrated Gem in the BL World
When it comes to showing off their stunning male actors’ butts, nobody does it better than Be On Cloud. From KinnPorsche to 4 Minutes and now Shine… truly the masters of cheeks on screen 🍑😂It’s so rare that I genuinely love both couples in a BL, but this series absolutely delivered. Apo and Mile already proved their magic in KinnPorsche, and now seeing Son (Krailert) for the first time was such a revelation, he’s like a stunning Thai god, beautiful and perfect in every way.
The attention to detail is incredible. From the 1960s setting, the vintage clothes, cars, and houses, the production team poured so much effort into making this drama authentic and immersive. Every episode held my attention, I was never once bored, and the story kept me captivated throughout.
The highlight for me is Krailert secretly seeing his lover. It powerfully portrays the struggles of same-sex relationships and the pain of staying closeted in the 1960s. The NC scenes are another standout. They’re not just erotic but also deeply romantic, with the hauntingly beautiful violin background music making them unforgettable.
The best episode for me is epiosde 7, it was a storm of heartbreak, truth, and sacrifice. Three moments stood out: Naran’s coming out, Victor’s tragic death, and the loss of the loyal Veera.
At the dining table, Naran finally gathered the courage to tell Dao the truth: the person he loved was not her, but a man. His words cut through the air like silence itself. Dao stood frozen, her world shattering in an instant. When he called her name, she turned, lifted her heel, and struck his face, not with her hand, but with something harsher, as if to say his truth was too vile to touch. In the 1960s, when same-sex love was invisible and forbidden, her slap was not only a wound of betrayal but a reflection of a society unable to accept love in its purest form.
Meanwhile, on the streets, blood painted the cry for freedom. As someone from Melbourne, I think of protests I have witnessed where, at worst, police use pepper spray to scatter a crowd. Yet here, in Thailand’s past, guns were raised against innocent students, their voices silenced with bullets. Among them, Victor fell. He was not just a man at a protest, he was a dreamer, on the cusp of a new life in America. His death was senseless, his future stolen. Tanwa’s silence to protect Trin now becomes Trin’s torment, for he will forever wonder: if he had known, could Victor have been saved? Little did he know, Victor had already been warned. My heart breaks for them both, bound by grief and guilt.
And then Veera. The most loyal, the most silent, the most unseen. He loved Dhevi in silence, hiding his feelings within the pages of a notebook. Those very words, his only confession, betrayed him, exposing him to blackmail and sealing his fate. He died not as a villain, not as a coward, but as a man willing to sacrifice himself for the Colonel and the woman he could never have. His death was not only tragic, it was cruelly unjust.
Episode 7 exposes a bitter truth: love can be punished, loyalty can be betrayed, and innocence can be crushed beneath corruption. Police who were meant to protect became executioners, and love that should have been celebrated became a curse. This episode is not just a story, it is a wound, one that lingers long after the screen fades to black.
This series deserves way more recognition. 10/10 highly recommended for anyone who loves BL done with depth, beauty, and heart.
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